Well lets hope you make it down here one day Jim. There's heapsa stuff to see, but some of it is a loooong way apart! You need lots of time.
I dont think I'll go to the trouble you did with the back end of your S/S, but I was wondering about what's underneath the tail in the area everyone is mounting after market tail wheels. Is there something solid under there that can take a couple of self tappers or do you have to reinforce it? I also cant figureout how those setups workwith the little add on tail piece that the stearmanhas.I'd be interested to hear your thoughts on firewall reinforcement too Jim. There's a few good ideas on here. One guy did a beaut install of a DLE 30 but the muffler/firewall clearance was pretty tight in my books. I'dbe worried about the firewall getting cooked after you land & shut down.Others have fudged a bit ofextra room lengthwise by moving the cowl forward a bit. If I did this I was thinking I could put a 5-6mm ply plate on the firewallwith appropriate cutouts for the carb etc & this would also give it a bit of beef to absorb vibration. I would also do the firewall/fuse joint but am not sure what method is best. A guy on here built one of the first & used a 40cc with snow ski's. I'm sure you've read his posts. Over eleven hundred flights!. His epoxy/carbon fibre method worked I guess.

I read the blurb about your book....sounds like it'd be an interesting tale. Just might have to delve further!
Mick